Purchasing Executive – Indirect Category

Upscale Sdn Bhd; Penang; On-site; MYR 80,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Upscale Sdn Bhd seeks an experienced procurement professional to manage indirect categories in a manufacturing setting. You will drive strategic sourcing, supplier selection, and contract negotiations, aligning with internal stakeholders to optimize total cost of ownership.

Responsibilities include end-to-end sourcing, supplier performance management, and ensuring compliant P2P processes. Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Bahasa Malaysia or Mandarin is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a relevant discipline.
• 3–5 years in indirect procurement or category sourcing in manufacturing.
• Experience across multiple indirect categories (e.g. MRO, facilities, IT, utilities).
• Knowledge of contract law, incoterms, invoicing, and SLAs.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Excel/PowerPoint) and ERP/SRM tools (SAP, Coupa).
• English fluent; Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with internal stakeholders.
• Lead cost optimization, supplier performance, and long-term value creation.
• Manage end-to-end sourcing: supplier identification, RFQs, evaluation, selection, negotiation and contracts.
• Negotiate commercially favorable terms and ensure reliable delivery.
• Build and optimize supplier base to meet current and future needs.
• Oversee operational procurement activities and P2P execution.
• Review requisitions for specs, budget alignment and compliance.
• Ensure timely orders, delivery tracking and supplier coordination.
• Monitor supplier performance and initiate corrective actions.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Multi-category sourcing

Time/priority management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Supply Chain, or related disciplines

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

SAP

Coupa

Job description

Who we are looking for

We are looking for purpose-driven builders: hands‑on professionals with entrepreneurial spirit who enjoy setting up structures, improving processes and taking ownership in a fast-moving environment.

As pioneers of our Malaysia site, you will help to shape not only your function, but also how we work together locally — while being connected to a global team of around 1,000 employees from ~60 nationalities across Asia, Europe and the US.

We offer competitive benefits, outstanding technical expertise, development opportunities and training.

Responsibilities

This role is responsible for the end-to-end management of assigned indirect procurement categories, combining strategic category ownership with hands‑on involvement in operational procurement activities.

It ensures cost-effective sourcing, reliable supply and efficient execution of the purchase-to-pay process.

• Develop and implement category strategies in close alignment with internal stakeholders, focusing on cost optimization, supplier performance and long-term value creation.
• Translate business requirements into sourcing strategies and lead procurement initiatives to ensure effective and competitive supply solutions.
• Manage end-to-end sourcing processes, including supplier identification, RFQs, evaluation, selection, negotiation and contract award.
• Lead commercial and contractual negotiations with suppliers, ensuring competitive pricing, favorable terms and reliable delivery performance.
• Build, maintain and continuously optimize the supplier base to support current and future business needs.
• Take ownership of operational procurement activities within assigned categories, ensuring efficient execution of the purchase-to-pay process.
• Review and validate purchase requisitions, ensuring clarity of specifications, budget alignment and compliance with procurement policies.
• Ensure timely order placement, delivery tracking and coordination with suppliers and internal stakeholders to secure on‑time supply.
• Monitor supplier performance (quality, delivery, responsiveness) and initiate corrective actions if required to ensure continuous improvement.
• Act as the key interface between suppliers and internal functions (e.g. Facility, IT, Production), ensuring alignment and issue resolution.
• Identify supply risks and operational bottlenecks, escalating critical issues and ensuring mitigation actions are implemented.
• Ensure all sourcing and procurement activities comply with company policies, ethical standards and legal requirements.

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Supply Chain, or related disciplines.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in indirect procurement or category sourcing within a manufacturing environment, with exposure to both strategic sourcing and operational execution.
• Experience managing or supporting multiple indirect categories (e.g. MRO, facility services, IT, utilities), with a good understanding of category dynamics and supply markets.
• Familiar with contract law, incoterms, invoicing, service level agreements.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to interact confidently with internal departments and external suppliers. Practical skills to handle multiple tasks/projects with time/priority planning.
• Good proficiency in MS Office tools (especially Excel and PowerPoint) and experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred) and SRM tools (e.g. Coupa).
• Fluent in English; Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin proficiency is a plus. Working Conditions & Environment
• Majority of the work is at Batu Kawan site.
• Visits to supplier locations will be requested as needed.